St. Paul daily globe., 1887-07-08
FELICIa's BRIEF ROMANCE.
She Found Too Late That Cupid's
Arrows Were Tipped With Gold.

=
Arrows We're Tipped With Gold.
Whenever couple from the Italian
colony in New York wish to be married
they immediately HE them to the city
hall, accompanied by their parents,
cousins and procession of friends,
says the New York World. The nup-
tial knot is tied by either the mayor,
city court judge or one of the aldermen.
An interpreter, who leans against
marble pillar in the corridor of the city
hall, generally officiateS at the wedding
and receives small fee for his trouble.
During the session of the last legisla-
ture bill was presented to reScind the
law permitting aldermen to transform
themselves into marrying agents. The
bill was not paSsad, and the aldermen
are still obliging to their friends who
wish to be joined in the holy bonds of
matrimony. This increases the i'm
portance of aldermen in the eyes of lov-
ers. Besides aldermen do not insist
upon kissing the bride afteS the cere-
mOny is performed.
There was a wedding ceremony at the
city hall yesterday which brough out an
Interesting little romance. Miss Felicia
A. Marino is pretty girl fifteen years
old. She was born near Florence. but
was brought to New York when little
tot. For some years she has resided
with her mother and Stepfather at So
Mulberry street. Not long ago Domi-
nicO MerinO, who is no relative, by the
way, of pretty Felicia, began hanging
around the alley doorway Of So Null
berry street. He and Felicia became
acquainted, and duriug the spring even
lngS they were often seen together in
they fell in love. The girl knew that
her father, when he died, left her $500,
and it is supposed that her
lover had heard whispered that
his adOred was an heireSS. When
young Dominica asked the girls mother
for the hand of her daughter he was
chased OutOf the house with broom
stick. The poor girl was locked up in
her room all by herself and the step
father used to sit around the alley-way
front with big club on the lookout for
the aqueduct labOrer, who was after
Felicia and her $500. A week ago
Felicia slipped over the next door parti-
ton fence, met Dominica, who had
taken day off, and they meandered
down Centre street to the city hall.
Harry Van Peit, the matrimonial clerk
to the board of aldermen, approached
the couple and they told him they
wanted to be married. The black-eyed
and dark-haired girl said she was not
yet sixteen and that her mother was
up home washing. MIR. Van Peit,
despite his good nature, said she was
too young, unless her mother was pres
ent to give her consent. Felicia
and Dominica were creStfallen
and they begged Mr.. Van Peit to
get even red-mOuStached aldermen to
marry them. ME no care" said DOM
inico, ''me have money!" thinking, no
railroad franchise it could buy mar
riage at the city hall. 1t was no use,
and with tears in their eyes the young
man and the young girl walked out of
the building. They went to No. 81 Mad
iSOn street, where they went to house.
keeping, after resolving to postpone
marriage until fate got little more
| prOpitious. Felicia'S mother found out
where her daughter was sequestered,
and applied to Judge White, at the
tombs, for assistance in the recovery of
her child. The magistrate referred her
to the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children. The agent of the
society could not do anything, because
he could obtain no proof that the girl
was under age. Then the mother sought
Mayor Hewitt, and the mayor told
Capt. Reilly to bring the couple
to the city hall. The captain visited
No. 80 Madison street and found Do
minico and Felicia there. He brought
them to the city hall yesterday morning.
Dominica appeared as if his love had
cooled. He had heard that the $500 be-
longing to Felicia had disappeared; that
it had been drawn out of the bank and
that the Stepfather had vowed that Do
minicO would not get cent of it. Any
how, when Dominica faced Mayor Hew-
lit Dominica said he was not as anxious
to be married as he had been week
ago.
''Tell him." said Mayor Hewitt to the
interpreter, ''that if he don't mary her
he will be arrested for abduction"
ARREST me. then," shouted the youth
to the interpreter.
Poor Felicia threw her hands to her
face and began crying as if her heart
would break. sit was my fault" she
sobbed. Il ran away with him."
The girls mother spoke to Dominica.
He asked her if the $500 was all right.
The mother said it had been spent. Do
minico frowned. The girl kept crying.
The mayor was standing near her. Do
minicO thought for few moments and
decided in favor of marriage. The
mayor read the ceremony, and the
crowd left his office. The groom walked
sullenly ahead of his bride, the mother
id-law trailed behind the procession,
and there were no flowers, presents,
kisses nor $500.